Ceres-USLS earns promotion

A Relentless Ceres-La Salle side crushed Manila All-Japan, 5-0, Wednesday night to clinch the United Football League second division title at Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

The Bacolod-based booters punctuated their dominance by winning five straight matches in the final stretch of the season, claiming the title with two games to spare.

With 54 points from 21 matches, Ceres, which lost just one match this season, also earned promotion to the first division for the first time in the history of the club.

“We were able to accomplish our mission (of winning the second division) this season,” said Ceres owner Leorey Yanson.

“It’s a big achievement for us but we’re looking forward to the challenge of playing in the first division.”

Ceres, which came tantalizingly close of reaching the final round of the AFC President’s Cup last month in Bacolod, pulled off the triumph despite missing national team stars Patrick Reichelt and Carli de Murga in its last five games.

Reichelt and De Murga were part of the national side that saw action in the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives.

One more spot in the first division next season is still up for grabs with Manila Jeepney and Air Force, which has 46 and 44 points, respectively, disputing the remaining berth with a game left in their schedules.